Folding table



April .25, 1933- J. v. cRlcHToN FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 25, 1931 I 1N VEN TOR: Jms T JZ 7l/20179 TORNEY S.

WITNESS? Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATEs 1,905,219Arr JAMES v. onrcrrron,v or rH-ILADELPHTA,.'PENNSYLVANIA 'Y FOLDING TABLE Y Application med February' 25, 1931.' serial No. 518,127.

This invention relates to folding tables,

and it has reference Vmore particularly to card tables wherein the legs are foldable against the underside of the table top. In folding cardtables, as heretofore constructed diagonal knuckle joint braces were ordinarily employed to hold the legs eX-l tended. Such knuckle braces were prone to yield upon accidental contact with them and were therefore not reliable as a means to secure the legs and to prevent collapse of the tables.

My invention is in the main directed top ward overcoming the drawback just mentioned through pivotal provisions, in connection with tables of the indicated sort, Whereby, as the legs are swung to extended position, they are securely locked against accidental collapse while supporting the table top in firm stability.

My invention is further concerned with means operative in conjunction with the provisions aforesaid to hold the legs from disvplacement when collapsed upon the underside of the table top.

Still other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will be manifest from the following detailed description of the attached drawing, wherein Fig. I is a plan view of the underside of a folding table conveniently embodying my invention, with the table legs collapsed.

Fig. II is a fragmentary view of a corner portion of the underside of the table showing on a larger scale and in greater ldetail the novel means by which the legs are connected to the table top.

Fig. III is a fragmentary section taken as indicated by the arrows III- III in Fig. II.

Fig. IV is a view corresponding to Fig. III but with the table leg extended; and, Fig. V is a fragmentary detail sectional view, taken as indicated by the arrows V--V in Fig. I, and showing the means provided for yieldingly holding the legs against displacement` when collapsed against the table PlVith more specific reference to these illus- Vtrations, the numeral 10 comprehensively designates the top of the table, which, in

the present instance is square and which may be of any desired construction. /To the underside of the table top 10 larezsecured angularly lianged, cast corner pieces-#11..With integrally formed depending studs 12. QPivotally connected to a bearing boss 13l on one of the flanges 14 of each corner piece 11 as Well as to a bearing lug y15 spaced from thev said ange, is a yoke member 16. Centrally of its cross bar 17,V the yoke member 16 has a boss 18 wherein the tubular leg indicated at- 19 is aorded limited sliding guidance for capacity to engage over the stud 12, when extended as in F ig. IV. A compression spring 20 linterposed between the boss-18 of the guidel'memberl and a headl 21 around` the upperend of the leg 19, serves to maintain the latter yieldingly interlocked. with f the stud 12, as in Fig. IV, when the table isy in use.

From Fig. springs 20 also serve, `when the'legsvr 19 are folded down, to maintain the upper ends of the latter in Contact with the sides of the studs 12 and thus tend to hold thelegs19 horizontal. To assist the springs 20 in the function just described and to -insure the` -legs `19 against the possibilityV of displacement when folded, spring' clips .22 are secured to the corner pieces 11 adjacent the bearings lugs 15 to yieldingly engage the legs. at their free ends after the manner best illustrated in Fig. V. y Y

In setting up the table, the legs 19 are pulled out of the holding clips 22 and swung at right angles to the table top 10V about their pivotal connections with the corner pieces 11, incident to'which they are automatically urged longitudinally upward by ineans of the springs 20 so that theirupper ends en gage over and interlock withthe studs 12 as in Fig. IV. When so interlocked with the studs 12, it is evident that the legs 19 are effectively secured against the possibility of accidental collapse, and the top 1() supported in firm stability as long as thetable is used. To fold the table, the legs 19 are lirst pulled in opposition to the springs 20 until they clear the studs 12 of the corner pieces 11,A and thereupon swung down about their piv-v ,Y Y A VTo? II it will. be noted vthat .the

otal connections against the top l to re-engage the holding clips 22.

If desired or found more convenient in l practice, the legs 19, instead of being made 5 tubular as herein illustrated, may be of solid construction with axial sockets at their upper ends to cooperate With the studs l2. Y

Having thus described my invention, I claim: Y Y Y l. In a folding table, the combination With the top of an angularly-flanged corner piece embodying a depending stud, means integral With said corner piece affording pivotal support for a yoke member having a ltubular boss, and a leg having sliding guidance in saidk boss with capacity to engageA over or be restrained in Contact with the side of the stud aforesaid. Y l o 2. In a folding table, the combination With 23S the top of an angularly-flanged corner piece embodying a depending stud, means integral With said corner piece affording pivotal support for a yoke member having a tubular boss, and a leg having limited sliding guidance in the boss for engagement over the depending stud to lock said legV in vertical position or to be sustained horizontally by contact with the side of said stud.

3. In a folding table, the combination 395 With the top of an angularly-flanged corner piece embodying a depending stud, a bearing` boss in one of the angular flanges and a spaced bearing lug integralrwith said corner piece to jointly afford pivotal support for an associated yoke member embodying a tubular boss, and a leg having limited sliding guidance in the tubular boss With means engageable over the depending stud t-o lock said leg in vertical position or to be sustained 'f horzontal by contact with the side of such stu l Y 4. In a folding table, the combination With the top of angularly-flanged corner pieces each embodying a depending stud, a bearing boss in one of the angular flanges and a spaced bearing lug integral With each said corner piece to jointly afford pivotal support for yoke members embodying tubular bosses, and tubular legs with flanged heads aorded limited guidance in the respectively associated tubular bosses for capacity to engage over the studs to lock said legs in vertical position or to be sustained horizontal `by contact with the sides thereof.

5. In a folding table, the combination With the top of angularly-langed corner pieces each embodying a depending stud, a bearing boss in one ofthe angular flanges and a spaced bearing lug integral With each said corner piece to jointly afford pivotal support for yoke members embodying tubular bosses,`

legs With flange heads having sliding guid ance in the tubular bosses, and a spring under compression intermediate each boss *andI leg 5 head liangewhereby the legs may be respectively locked in vertical position over the depending studs or maintained horizontally in folded position against the underside of the table top.

6. In a folding table, the combination With the top of angularly-flanged corner pieces each embodyino a depending stud, a bearing boss Lin one o` the angular ,flanges and a spaced bearing lug integral With each said corner piece to jointly afford pivotal support for yoke members embodying tubular bosses, legs With flange heads having sliding guidance in the tubular bosses, a spring under com ression intermediate each boss and leg hea flange wherebyl the legs may be individuallyl locked in'vertical position over the dependingvstuds or maintained horizontally infolded position against the underside of the table top, and a spring clip on each corner piece to yieldingly engage the respective legs at their free ends When moved into horizontal position.

In Vtestimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name atPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, this 21st day of February, 1931.

' JAMES V. GRICHTON. 

